Tag: Fullback

Broncos elevate 2 players from practice squad for Falcons game

The Broncos have elevated LB Zach Cunningham and DB Keidron Smith from the practice squad to the game-day roster for Week 11.

The Denver Broncos are calling up some reinforcements from the practice squad ahead of their Week 11 showdown with the Atlanta Falcons.

The Broncos elevated linebacker Zach Cunningham and safety Keidron Smith from the practice squad to the game-day roster on Saturday. They will revert back to the practice squad on Monday.

Players can be elevated up to three times during the season without having to clear waivers to return to the practice squad. This will mark Cunningham’s second elevation of the season and Smith’s first.

Last week, Cunningham played 22 snaps on special teams but did not get any reps on defense. Instead, the Broncos leaned on Cody Barton (68 snaps) and Justin Strnad (42 snaps). Cunningham and Lavelle Bailey were available as depth linebackers but only played on special teams.

Smith will continue to provide depth at safety after getting bumped down from the active roster to the practice squad earlier this week.

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on Fox (view the TV map). Playing at home, the Broncos are considered slight favorites in Week 11.

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Broncos make second roster move ahead of Falcons game

The Broncos promoted fullback Michael Burton from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Wednesday.

The Denver Broncos made their second roster move of the week on Wednesday by promoting fullback Michael Burton from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

Burton (5-11, 242 pounds) had maxed out his three practice squad elevations, so Denver had to promote him to the active roster so he can play against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The Broncos had room for Burton on the active roster after waiving safety Keidron Smith on Tuesday.

Smith cleared waivers on Wednesday and he plans to return on the team’s practice squad, according to a report from the Denver Gazette‘s Chris Tomasson. Smith played in eight games this season, totaling six tackles. He played primarily on special teams.

Burton, 32, has played in all 10 games for the Broncos this season. Used primarily as a blocker, Burton has two carries and five catches on 100 offensive snaps this season. Burton has also played 179 snaps on special teams this fall.

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Broncos elevate 2 players from practice squad for Chiefs game

The Broncos have elevated FB Michael Burton and LB Zach Cunningham from the practice squad to the game-day roster for the Chiefs game.

The Denver Broncos are calling up some reinforcements from the practice squad ahead of their Week 10 showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Broncos elevated fullback Michael Burton and linebacker Zach Cunningham from the practice squad to the game-day roster on Saturday. They will revert back to the practice squad on Monday.

Players can be elevated up to three times during the season without having to clear waivers to return to the practice squad. This will mark Burton’s third and final practice squad elevation. He will likely return to the 53-man roster when a spot opens up, perhaps as early as next week.

Burton has dressed for all nine games this season, playing 90 snaps on offense and 164 snaps on special teams. This week marks the first time Cunningham has been elevated this season. He will likely play on special teams while providing depth behind Justin Strnad at linebacker.

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (view the TV map). Playing at home, KC is considered a heavy favorite against the Broncos.

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Broncos cut player from offense ahead of Ravens game

The Broncos cut FB Michael Burton from the 53-man roster on Friday. He’s expected to return on the practice squad.

Story update: The Broncos re-signed Mike Burton to the practice squad on Saturday. He was then elevated from the practice squad to the game-day roster for Week 9. See our original post below.

The Denver Broncos have released fullback Michael Burton ahead of their game against the Baltimore Ravens, according to the NFL’s transaction wire (via multiple reports).

Burton, 32, is a vested veteran, so he’ll become a free agent immediately without having to clear the waiver wire. The Broncos plan to re-sign him to the practice squad, presumably on Saturday.

Denver needed to open up a spot on the active roster for offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton, who was out of practice squad elevations. Throckmorton was promoted to the 53-man roster on Friday and he will serve as the team’s backup center against the Ravens on Sunday.

Burton started the season on Denver’s practice squad and he was elevated to the game-day roster in Week 1. He is also expected to be elevated this week. The fullback would then be eligible to be elevated one more time this season.

NFL teams can elevate two players from the practice squad each week, but each player is limited to three elevations per season.

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Brother of Broncos’ Nate Adkins had a prophetic dream about FB/TE

“[My brother] said he had a dream that I was going to catch a touchdown today,” Broncos TE/FB Nate Adkins said after his first NFL score.

Denver Broncos fullback/tight end Nate Adkins usually has an unsung role as a blocker on offense and special teams utility player.

Adkins made a big play on Sunday, though, catching the first touchdown of his career in a 28-14 win over the Carolina Panthers. The score did not surprise Adkins’ brother, Nick.

“It was awesome,” Adkins said of his first score in the pros. “It’s actually a funny story: I was talking to my brother last night, and he said he had a dream that I was going to catch a touchdown today. So it’s pretty cool.”

Adkins finished the day with one catch for a three-yard touchdown.

Fittingly, Broncos tight ends had a big day on National Tight Ends Day. Adam Trautman led the way with four receptions for 85 yards and a score.

“I think we all had a pretty good day today,” Adkins said of the tight end room. “I think whenever the ball was in the air, everybody was just trying to go out there and make a play and it ended up being a good day for us.”

Adkins, 25, now has nine career receptions for 44 yards and one touchdown. He often flies under the radar, but Adkins was rewarded for his tireless role with a touchdown in Week 8.

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Saints have 2 ex-Broncos set to face their former team on ‘TNF’

Saints lineman Connor McGovern and fullback Adam Prentice will face their former team when the Broncos visit New Orleans on Thursday.

The Denver Broncos have eight former New Orleans Saints players on their roster going into a Thursday Night Football showdown with Sean Payton’s old team.

The Saints, meanwhile, have a pair of former Broncos on their own roster in backup offensive lineman Connor McGovern and fullback Adam Prentice.

McGovern, 31, (not to be confused with the 26-year-old Connor McGovern who plays for the Buffalo Bills) entered the league as a fifth-round pick out of Missouri in 2016. He spent the first four years of his career in Denver, starting 36 games while moving between guard and center. McGovern is now a backup center in New Orleans.

Prentice, 27, signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina in 2021. After failing to make Denver’s 53-man roster as a rookie, he was picked up by the Saints. He has spent the last four years in New Orleans, serving primarily as a blocking fullback and special teams player.

McGovern and Prentice will face off against their former team when the Saints host the Broncos on TNF on Oct. 17.

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Broncos fans might not recognize this player, but Sean Payton loves him

“When you grade the practice, he ends up in the 90s always,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of tight end/fullback Nate Adkins.

Nate Adkins is listed as a tight end on the Denver Broncos‘ depth chart, but he only totaled four receptions for 22 yards as a rookie last season.

That’s because Adkins is not a typical tight end. He’s what coach Sean Payton describes as an “F” position, kind of a tight end/fullback hybrid. While he can catch, Adkins is used primarily as a blocker, and he rarely misses his assignment.

“He’s one of those guys — even when he came out of South Carolina — you could count on one hand his catches in college,” Payton said last month. “He was a blocking ‘F,’ not just fullback but tight end. Whatever the assignment is, he’s one of those guys that when you grade the practice, he ends up in the 90s always. The same thing happens in the kicking game. He gets his guy blocked. So he understands space and leverage.

“He’s a little better receiver than we expected, but he is that F-type player so he meets with the tight ends. If one day I said, ‘Go meet with the fullbacks and the running backs,’ nothing would change. He’s very smart. He’s very dependable, and I would say he’s really good relative to blocking and blocking in space and that’s why it carries over in the kicking game.”

After the Broncos dropped fullback Michael Burton from the 53-man roster down to the practice squad this summer, Adkins figures to have a bigger role on offense in 2024. Denver fans might not recognize the tight end following his quiet rookie season, but Adkins should become more well-known soon.

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Broncos re-sign 2 veterans to practice squad after roster cuts

After being released on Tuesday, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey and FB Michael Burton are returning to the Broncos on the practice squad.

The Denver Broncos are bringing back two veterans on the practice squad after releasing them on Tuesday.

After failing to make the 53-man roster, wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey and fullback Michael Burton are re-signing on Denver’s practice squad.

Humphrey (6-4, 225 pounds) played for Sean Payton with the New Orleans Saints from 2019-2021 and then followed Payton to Denver in 2023. He also started last season on the practice squad but was quickly promoted to the active roster after safety Caden Sterns was injured in Week 1.

Humphrey dressed for all 17 games last season, earning eight starts. He hauled in 13 receptions for 162 yards and three touchdowns in 2023.

Burton also spent time with Payton and the Saints during the 2019 offseason and then again in 2020. He signed with the Broncos last year and appeared in all 17 games. Used primarily as a blocker on offense, Burton rushed seven times for nine yards and four first downs last season. He also played 290 snaps on special teams.

Humphrey and Burton are both candidates to be elevated to the game-day roster for a Week 1 showdown with the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 8.

We are tracking all of Denver’s practice squad moves on Broncos Wire.

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Will standout rookie force Chiefs to revive the fullback position in 2024?

Standout rookie Carson Steele may force Andy Reid to consider bringing the fullback position back to the #Chiefs’ offense in 2024.

The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t have a fullback on their roster last season but may decide to bring the position back after a strong showing from rookie Carson Steele in the preseason and training camp.

Steele made a great first impression on fans in his preseason debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars last week, showcasing his powerful running style and versatility to fulfill duties as a lead blocker in two-back sets.

He was Kansas City’s leading rusher in the game, racking up 29 yards and scoring a touchdown in just four carries, playing mostly as a running back.

But, Andy Reid seemed to have a different vision for Steele during the Chiefs’ final training camp practice on Thursday when Steele was seen taking a carry as a fullback with Isiah Pacheco behind him in a heavy formation.

Check out this video of Steele’s skills as a fullback, which was posted to Twitter by KC Sports Network:

Though one snap in training camp hardly constitutes a wholesale change in the Chiefs’ offensive approach, Steele’s potential as a fullback could be a boon for Reid and Patrick Mahomes in short-yardage situations or near the goal line.

For now, Steele’s spot on Kansas City’s 53-man roster is far from guaranteed, but with a solid showing against the Detroit Lions this weekend, he could punch his ticket to becoming the Chiefs’ new fullback.

Saints may have settled their fullback competition by waiving Zander Horvath

The Saints may have settled their fullback competition by waiving Zander Horvath. But is Adam Prentice’s job really safe from Taysom Hill?

Training camp isn’t over just yet, but the New Orleans Saints may have already settled their fullback competition. Zander Horvath was let go on Tuesday, per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill.

Horvath followed running backs coach Derrick Foster to New Orleans from the Los Angeles Chargers, and he initially seemed to have an edge over Adam Prentice, who the Saints re-signed this offseason after he tested free agency. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak asks a lot of his fullbacks in blocking for their teammates while also running routes and occasionally catching passes, and Prentice has emerged as a better option.

That’s a little surprising after Prentice’s rough 2023 season. He had a costly fumble and some dropped passes last year, but credit to him for stepping up in the face of competition. But he isn’t out of the woods yet. Taysom Hill has taken more snaps at fullback this summer than in the past and Prentice must convince the coaching staff they still need a full-time fullback even with Hill in the mix to a greater degree. We’ll keep an eye on him through the next two preseason games.

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